amc.killashandra-第36部分

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　Lars　regarded　her　with　a　genuine　surprise。　〃You　would？　What　music　training　did　you　have？〃
　〃I　studied　for　ten　years　at　the　Fuerte　Music　Center。　Voice。〃
　Lars　nearly　lost　grip　on　the　tiller　and　before　he　had　altered　the　course；　the　Pearl　yawed　in　the　rough　seas；　throwing　Killashandra　against　him　〃You　were　the　soprano　that　night？〃
　〃Yes。〃　She　grinned。　〃I　recognized　your　tenor　at　the　barbecue。　Where　did　you　learn　Baleef's　Voyagers？　And　the　Pearl　Fishers　duet？　Certainly　not　in　the　Conservatory。〃
　〃My　father。　He'd　brought　some　of　his　microlibrary　with　him　when　he　came　to　Optheria。〃
　〃Your　father　is　naturalized？〃
　〃Oh；　yes。　Like　yourself；　he　didn't　e　to　the　islands　by　choice。　If　we　mention　your　true　identity　to　no　one　else　…　and　what　is　your　true　name？　Or　don't　crystal　singers　give　them？〃
　〃You　mean　to　say　you　don't　know　the　name　of　the　woman　you　assaulted　and　then　abducted？〃　Killashandra　pretended　outrage。
　Lars　shook　his　head；　grinning　at　her　with　an　almost　boyish　mischief。
　〃Killashandra　Ree。〃
　He　repeated　the　syllables　slowly；　then　smiled。　〃I　like　that　much　better　than　Carrigana。　That　was　a　rather　harsh　name　to　say　endearingly。　The　ells　and　the　sh　are　sweeter。〃
　〃Possibly　the　only　sweet　thing　about　me；　I　warn　you；　Lars。〃
　He　pointedly　ignored　that　remark。　〃My　father　must　know　who　you　are；　Killashandra。　It　will　give　him　new　heart　for　I'll　tell　you　frankly；　he　was　far　more　discouraged　about　those　arrested　in　the　Elders'　search　than　he　let　on　to　the　others。　Nor〃　…　he　paused；　only　then　aware　of　the　water　sloshing　in　the　cockpit　about　their　toes　…　〃nor　do　I　like　deceiving　Nahia。　She　doesn't　deserve　it。〃
　〃No；　she　doesn't。　Though　I　have　the　feeling　she　already　has　a　good　idea　that　I'm　not　the　island　maid　I've　been　portraying。〃
　〃Oh？　Was　she　at　that　reception　in　the　Conservatory？〃
　〃No；　but　she　sensed　the　crystal　resonance。〃　Killashandra　stroked　her　arm　explanatorily。　Lars　caressed　her　then。
　〃You　mean；　that's　what　I've　been　feeling　whenever　we　touch？〃
　Killashandra　gave　him　a　reassuring　smile。　〃Not　entirely；　lover。　Some　of　it　is　a　perfectly　spontaneous　bustion。〃
　Lars　guffawed　at　that；　embracing　her　once　again。
　〃Shouldn't　I　bail　or　something？〃　she　asked　as　the　chill　sea　water　splashed　over　her　toes。　His　arm　restrained　her。
　〃Not　just　yet。〃　He　frowned；　glancing　off　to　port；　not　really　seeing　the　sprouts　of　islets　as　he　corrected　their　course　a　few　points　easterly。　〃However；　if　we　tell　my　father　and　Nahia　who　you　are　…　〃
　〃Hauness；　too？〃
　〃What　Nahia　knows；　Hauness　does；　and　safe　enough　in　both　their　hands。　But　then　what？　Hard　copy　on　the　suicide　files　is　rapidly　available。　But　I　should　insist　that　you　meet　with　other　groups　to　prove　unquestionably　that　the　arbitrary　restriction　to　Optheria　is　not　popularly　acceptable。〃
　〃I'm　glad　you　agree　to　that。〃
　〃In　doing　that；　you　will　also　need　to　avoid　the　Elders。　It　wouldn't　do　for　them　to　discover　you　blithely　treading　the　cobbles　at　Ironwood　or　the　terraces　of　Maitland。〃
　〃You　never　told　them　you'd　kidnapped　me；　so　why　couldn't　I　visit　other　munities？〃
　〃Because　you've　now　been　missing　for　five　weeks。　How　would　you　explain　such　an　absence；　much　less　why　you　haven't　repaired　their　precious　Festival　organ？〃
　〃I'd've　done　that　if　that　wretched　security　officer　hadn't　been　in　his　flatulent　dotage！　My　absence　is　easy　to　explain。　I　just　don't　explain　it。〃　She　shrugged　diffidently。
　Lars　sniggered。　〃You　don't　know　how　much　our　Elders　dislike　mysteries　…　〃
　〃You　have　seen　me　playing　a　humble　island　maid；　Lars。　Try　seeing　me　as　a　highly　indignant　and　aristocratic　member　of　the　Heptite　Guild。〃　As　she　spoke；　her　voice　became　strange；　disdainful；　and　Killashandra　pulled　herself　arrogantly　erect。　Lars　started　to　remove　his　arm　from　her　shoulders　in　reaction　to　the　transformation。　〃I'm　more　than　a　match　for　Ampris　or　Torkes。　And　they　need　my　services　far　too　much　to　annoy　me　again。〃
　〃I'm　obliged　to　mention　that　they've　sent　for　a　replacement　…　〃
　〃I　know　that。〃
　〃How　could　you？〃
　Killashandra　grinned　at　him。　〃Crystal　singers　have　preternaturally　acute　hearing。　You　and　your　little　band　of　conspirators　were　only　across　the　room　from　me。　I　heard　every　word。〃
　Lars　momentarily　let　the　tiller　slip　but　Killashandra　grabbed　it　and　steadied　the　helm。
　〃A　second　crystal　singer　might　be　all　to　the　good；　depending　on　who　they　send。　But　we've　time　to　spare　…　it'll　take　nearly　ten　weeks　to　get　another　singer　here。　I　happen　to　need　the　contract　money　so　I'll　repair　their　damned　organ。　Maybe　this　time；　I'll　get　the　kind　of　help　I　need。〃　A　thought　suddenly　struck　Killashandra。　〃By　all　that's　holy；　I'll　get　you！〃　She　prodded　Lars's　chest　with　her　forefinger。
　Lars　snorted　with　derision。　〃I'm　the　last　person　wele　in　the　Conservatory！〃
　〃Ah；　but　you　will　be　wele　…　as　the　man　who　rescued　this　poor　abandoned　crystal　singer　from　durancevile！〃
　〃What？〃
　〃Well；　that　would　answer　why　I've　been　absent。　But；　of　course；　I　never　set　eyes　on　my　abductor　so　I　can't　say　who　it　might　be。〃　Killashandra　fluttered　her　eyelashes　in　mock　horror。　〃There　I　was；　taking　a　stroll　to　pose　myself　after　that　horrible　confrontation　with　an　officious　oaf　and　wham！　bung！　I'm　coshed　on　the　head　and　wake　up；　all　alone；　on　a　desert　island；　heavens　know　where！〃　Killashandra　got　into　the　part　with　a　faked　swoon。　〃I'm　less　of　a　ham　with　a　properly　respectful　audience；　I　might　add。　But　there　I　am。　Lost！　Who　knows　who　the　dastards　are　…　using　a　plural　will　suggest　a　whole　group　of　conspirators；　you　see　…　And　then　you。。。〃　Killashandra　laid　a　delicate　hand　on　Lars's　arm。　His　eyes　were　bright　with　mirth　and　he　had　his　lips　pressed　together　against　distracting　laughter。　〃You　…　loyal　despite　your　terrible　disappointment〃　…　and　Killashandra　put　her　hand　to　her　breast　and　breathed　hard　〃　…　rescued　me　and　insisted　on　returning　me　to　the　safety　of　the　City；　to　install　the　crystal　manual　so　that　the　priceless　organ　will　be　ready　for　the　Summer　Festival。　Thus　currying　favor　with　the　powers　that　be　…　which；　in　view　of　your　subversive　activities；　is　a　very　good　idea　…　and　saving　them　the　cost　of　another　expensive　crystal　singer。　We　are　very　expensive　to　hire；　you　see。　And　I　have　the　impression　that　the　Elders　are　credit…crunchers。〃
　Lars　began　to　chuckle；　rubbing　his　chin　as　if　he　was　visualizing　those　moments　of　triumph。
　〃If　you　can　be　trusted　not　to　overact〃　…　he　ducked　as　she　shook　her　fist　at　him　…　〃you　know；　it　might　work。〃
　〃Of　course　it　will　work！　I　was　able　to　gauge　audience　reactions　to　a　pico。　And　more　than　just　give　you　a　well…deserved　return　for　their　meanness　and　chicanery　to　you；　I'll　pretend　that　I'm　so　very　nervous　about　a　repetition　of　assault　and　battery　that　I'll　need　you　by　my　side　all　the　time。〃
　〃I　think；〃　Lars　began；　slowly；　thoughtfully；　〃Father　and　the　others　will　like　this　plan。〃
　〃Oh？〃
　Lars　gave　a　rueful　snort。　〃I　got　rather　soundly　told　off　for　acting　in　a　unilateral　fashion　when　I　abducted　you；　you　know。　My　father　is　a　mild　mannered　man　most　of　the　time　…　〃
　〃Then　let　us　by　all　means　present　this　idea　to　him　…　them。　And　by　the　way；　speaking　of　mild…mannered　men；　what　do　you　know　about　Corish　von　Mittelstern？〃
　〃The　man　looking　for　his　uncle？〃
　〃That's　the　one。〃
　〃Well；　he's　not　an　Optherian　agent　if　that's　what　you're　worried　about。　We　checked　him　for　residue。〃
　〃Checked　him　for　what？〃
　〃D'you　recall　the　arc　at　the　shuttleport？　That's　to　prevent　Optherians　from　leaving　the　planet。　The　arc　is　set　to　detect　a　mineral　residue　that　is　present　in　our　bone　marrow。　There's　absolutely　no　argument　with　the　port　guards　if　you　try　to　enter　the　shuttleport。　They　just　shoot。〃
　〃And　that's　activated　by　any　Optherian　passing　the　sensors？〃
　〃Even　visitors　who've　stayed　long　enough　to　absorb　sufficient　trace　to　be　detected。〃　Lars's　expression　was　sour。　〃Like　my　father。〃
　Killashandra　half　heard　that　ment；　as　she　was　thinking　back　to　her　exit　from　the　port。　Thyrol　had　been　right　beside　her　and　the　alarm　hadn't　gone　off　for　them；　though　it　had　when　the　rest　of　the　Optherian　quartette　had　passed。
　〃Strange；　that；〃　she　said　half　to　herself。　〃No。　Corish　isn't　Optherian。　He　came　out　on　the　Athena　with　me。　But　I've　a　very　good　notion　that　he's　an　FSP　agent　of　some　sort。　I　mean；　what　good　is　just　one　impartial　observer　if　the　object　is　to　change　the　status　quo　of　an　entire　planet？　Even　if　I　am　a　crystal　singer。〃
　〃Did　Corish　know　that？〃
　〃No。〃　Killashandra　chuckled。　〃To　Citizen　von　Mittelstern　I　was　a　brash　and　impulsive　music　student　traveling　cheap　to　the　Summer　Festival！〃　When　Lars　gave　her　a　puzzled　look；　she　laughed。　〃Being　a　crystal　singer　entails　some　rather　curious　disadvantages　which　are　not　relevant　to　the　more　important　discussion　at　hand。〃
　〃I　don't　know　much　about　crystal　singers　…　〃
　〃What　you　don't　know　won't　hurt　you；〃　she　said；　waggling　a　finger　under　his　nose。　〃But　I'd　very　much　like　to　know　more　about　Corish；　and　if　there　is　a　missing　uncle。〃
　〃Why　didn't　Corish　recognize　you　on　the　beach？〃
　〃The　same　reason　you　didn't。　And　he　didn't　know　me　all　that　well；〃　she　added；　a　bit　amused　by　Lars's　reaction。　〃He　rather　obviously；　at　least　to　me；　cultivated　the　pany　of　an　innocuous　and　silly　young　music　student。　And　one　or　two　other　anomalies　ale